The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-02-17
ACTIVE LAW MAKERS!
With Plenty of Material Upon
which to Operate the
Wind Pump.
Few Measures Of Note have
Passed, and Half a Thou
sand yet TO Bob up
Serenely.
Committee Meetings, and their
Results-the Greer County
Question and the Will
lis Investigation.

The solons Of Texas must be well con.
tent with their lot, judging by The
amoan, Of time they occupy n the dis
cussion Of measures upon which well set
tied opinions are knosn 70 be pretty gen
orally held. or upon which they know the
diversity Of opinion is so great that their
legislation would be practically in
operative. An eight line bill,
amendatory to the hunting and fishing
law-the bill. simple IL itself furnished
range for two hours talk on temperance
Yesterday afternoon; the Sunday law, NOR
aliry the training Of children and the ab-
surdity of making a law which would be a
dead letter, all came within range Of the
discussion. An outsider, looking on and
thoroughly worn with the discussion, was
heard to remark that there was more
talk for reelection and less practical
working in the body than in any he had
ever seen. Speaker Pendleton, however
sensibly cut the matter short by prompt
decision, which put the subject under the
daisies, and Mr.. Rugel will have to hunt
another measure WHEREBY TO make himself
famous in Mesquite land.
suDGE WILLIS INvEsTlGATIoN.
The special committee, appointed 10
investigate the charges against Judge
Willis, met again yesterday morning. All
the witnesses for the prosecution and de
PENDANT were recognized and excluded
from the committee room until each. II
his turn. was called 10 testify. Judge
Willis was again put on the stand TO
answer questions propounded by Atior-
ney-general Hogg, in crOss-examlnaiion
of his direct testimony given before the
committee last week. In substance his
evidence is, that he did not remember dis
tinctly whether be knew what the indict-
ments were for at the time they were
handed to him; bat, on being further ques-
toned by Mr. Hogg, admitted that be
must have known that the bill returned
the first day OF the January term, lss6,
against Mr.. Goodnight, was for a viola
ton of the enclosure act. Also the other
bin returned against Mr.. Goodnight two
days afterwards. On the llth OF Jan
uary, 1856, two days after the Goodnight
indictments we're presented, Mr.. Good
night, foreman Of the grand jury, brought
in a basket full Of indictments and car
ried them in the court house on his arm
These indictments were against Messrs
Oliver. Pope. Brown, harrington, Good
night and Others. ! knew Goodnight
Pope, harrington, Mckinney and Bev
erly; they were all on the grand jury
Goodnight was indicted in seven cases
Mckinney in six cases, and Beverly il
six cases. This district atior-
ney came to me before the
bills were found and asked me whether a
foreman could sign bill against him
self or course Thought be meant Good
night. / have no recollection OF ever
having so many trials at one time where
the yer5icts ell went one way. l think
in some cases, the reading Of the indict.
meuts were waived. / dort think any
witnesses were sworn. Am not certain
that Goodnight had ever given bond
Pleas of not guilty we're entered IL az
cases. The attorneys made agreed state
meuts before the juries, explaining Ii,
condition Of the land from map.
charged the iuries and they retired an,
returned q verdict OF not guilty. i
Goodnight had been convicted on th0
evidence / would have let the yer
diet stand and refused q new trial
never warned the defendants ! don
know whether Nelson was tried in Dbl
absence or not; II he had been foun,
guilty in his absence, l would have above,
the verdict 70 stand; when q case wa
called, the district attorney and defend
ants attorneys went ont and made Gi
agreement, and GENE into court and state,
il; don't know whether defendants wer,
with them when the agreements were mad
or not; never warned them that such 81
agreement vRs being made; don't knUy
whether same jury was used in every cas-
or not; / remember the Jury came in one,
and the clerk resi the verdict Of guilty K
scare Brown, and it created some amuse
ment in the court room, and N,
foreman jumped up and said
"if il read that way be die
no. intend 70 write II TO read guilty
Jus; before the jury came into the eouri
room the clerk said he was going TO read
the verdict that way 70 scare Brown. Be
fore this term Of court ! had objected t,
AIR. WOodman, the district attorney, re
ceiving a salary from the cattlsmen;
knew il was in violation Of the law.